Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has declared the entire state solidly behind President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027, framing the endorsement as a preemptive victory that requires no further campaigning from the president himself.
Speaking at a high-profile gathering in Edo Central on Friday, Okpebholo led a coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) heavyweights in formally adopting Tinubu as the party's preferred candidate for the upcoming polls.
The event, which doubled as a strategic mobilization rally, drew top party figures including Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, Minister for Regional Development Hon. Abubakar Momoh, and Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, among others.
"I want to thank Mr. President for what he’s doing for Edo people. We will let him know that we are for him completely here," Okpebholo proclaimed, emphasizing the president's tangible contributions to the state's infrastructure.
He recounted a recent discussion in Abuja about road challenges, which prompted swift action from the Minister of Works, including the impending kickoff of repairs on the critical Agbor road with heavy machinery.
"The President is not coming here to campaign because we have already done the campaign," the governor added, underscoring the grassroots efforts already underway.
The declaration came amid a broader push to fortify the APC's position in Edo, a state long seen as a battleground for Nigeria's major parties.
The rally also marked the official defection of several high-profile figures from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), including Hon. Emmanuel Okoduwa, Hon. Patrick Iluobe, Ehime Edangbe, and Hon. Anthony Iselobho.
These "decampees," as they were welcomed, pledged immediate loyalty to the APC and vowed to channel their networks toward securing Tinubu's victory.
"We are here to work tirelessly for the president's re-election," Okoduwa affirmed during the ceremony.
To bolster these efforts, four campaign buses were donated through the Office of the Special Adviser on Youths to APC coordinators in Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo South, aimed at ramping up voter outreach across the state's senatorial districts.
The move signals a calculated strategy to harness youth energy and expand the party's footprint ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Echoing Okpebholo's sentiments, Senator Oshiomhole lauded Tinubu's administration for creating a "transparent financial environment" that has enabled debt-free project execution under the current governor.
"One of the things the governor always reminds us is that he is not borrowing to execute projects. If the President had not created a transparent financial environment, many of his ideas could have died in his head. When you have a good driver, you retain him. Constant change can make the vehicle collapse," Oshiomhole said.
Minister Momoh went further, hailing Tinubu's reforms as the most transformative since Nigeria's independence.
"No administration since independence has embarked on impactful reforms like President Tinubu’s. These reforms will put Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and development," he declared, positioning the endorsement as a vote of confidence in the federal government's economic blueprint.
The motion to adopt Tinubu was formally moved by Retired General Cecil Esekhaigbe and seconded by Senator Joe Ikpea, representing Edo Central.
It passed unanimously, with Oshiomhole and other leaders rising in acclamation, painting a picture of rare intra-party unity in a state historically plagued by factionalism.
As Nigeria's political landscape heats up with the 2027 elections on the horizon, this Edo endorsement could prove pivotal for the APC. Analysts view it as a masterstroke in consolidating southern support for Tinubu, especially in the wake of recent infrastructure wins and opposition defections.
Okpebholo, wrapping up his address, reiterated his commitment to the people: "I promise to remain connected to my roots and prioritize service even after my tenure."
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